Pro-Trump truckers calling for a boycott of New York City after the former president’s fraud ruling have faced new criticism online, with many now warning that their jobs will be replaced by immigrants if they go through with their threats.
On Friday, New York City Judge Arthur Engoron ruled that Trump must pay $355 million in penalties in the civil fraud case brought against him by New York Attorney General Letitia James. The suit accused Trump and others of fraudulently inflating his net worth and the value of his assets to secure more favorable business loans, which Engoron found him liable for last year. Trump has also been barred from serving as an officer or director for any business in New York state for the next three years. Trump has maintained his innocence throughout the proceedings.
In response to the ruling, a number of pro-Trump social media users began urging truckers to boycott New York City by refusing to accept routes into it and potentially disrupting its economy.
“I’ve been on the radio talking to drivers for about the past hour and I’ve talked to about 10 drivers,” one prominent user named “Chicago Ray” wrote. “I don’t know how far across the country this is or how many truckers are going to start denying loads going to New York City, but I’ll tell you what—you f*** around and find out.”
Other truckers are flat-out denying it, saying it’s “not happening.”
In the days after calls for an NYC boycott began trending on social media, other more critical users took to platforms like X, previously known as Twitter, to warn that such a tactic might produce a result likely to frustrate pro-MAGA truckers: their jobs could be taken by immigrants willing to do the work.
“Who is to say, illegal immigrants don’t take your job?” user Ms. Eve wrote in a post to X. “Curious to find out how Truckers will cease logistics.”
“Anytime a ‘Trucker For Trump’ refuses to carry a load he/she should be fired immediately and replaced with an immigrant who wants the work!” user “End Citizens United Now” posted.
“That’s why we need more immigrant truckers,” a user going simply by “Thinker” posted in response to boycott advocate, “The Real Trucker Jake.” “Truckers like Jake are not only dumb, they’re unreliable.”
“Truckers are willing to cause any hardship they can. They strive to cause damage. They’re NOT pro-America. They seek to create harm to our cities & citizens,” user Cynethryth posted. “THEY SHOULD LOSE THEIR JOBS TO IMMIGRANTS WHO ARE VERY WILLING TO WORK FOR THE BETTERMENT OF OUR COUNTRY.”
Newsweek reached out to the Trucking Association of New York via email for comment on Tuesday evening. Any responses received will be added to this story in a later update.
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.